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NEW DELHI: The One-Day International format could face a serious battle for relevance and survival after the 2027 World Cup once its undisputed greats Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma decide to step away, according to former India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin.

While Kohli and Rohit’s appearances in the Vijay Hazare Trophy have generated significant interest, Ashwin feels that the rapid rise of T20 leagues and the enduring appeal of Test cricket have left shrinking room for the 50-over format.

"I am not sure about future of ODI after 2027 World Cup. I am a little worried about it. Of course, I am following Vijay Hazare Trophy but the manner in which I followed SMAT, I am finding slightly difficult to follow," Ashwin said on his Hindi YouTube channel 'Ash Ki Baat'.

"Also, we need to know what audience wants to watch. I feel Test cricket still has space but ODI cricket, I truly feel (it) doesn't have the space," Ashwin, widely regarded as one of India’s sharpest cricketing minds, stated bluntly.

India’s second-highest wicket-taker across formats with 765 scalps, Ashwin expressed concern about the format’s future once Kohli and Rohit — who together have 86 ODI centuries — eventually bow out.

"Look, Rohit and Virat came back to Vijay Hazare Trophy and people started watching it. We have known that sport is always bigger than individuals but at times these players (Ro-Ko) need to come back to make the game relevant," he noted.

"Vijay Hazare Trophy (national one-dayers), of course, is a domestic competition that not a lot of people follow, but they did (so now) because Virat and Rohit were playing. Even then, what happens when they stop playing ODIs?" he questioned.

Changing template of ODI batting

Ashwin reflected on how the 50-over format was once a platform that rewarded patience and control, producing players like Mahendra Singh Dhoni who mastered the art of pacing an innings.

"One-day cricket, once upon a time, was an amazing format because it gave a player like MS Dhoni who (would) take singles for 10-15 overs before he went berserk at the end.

"You don't have players like that (Dhoni) anymore and there isn't any requirement to play like that, as you are playing with two new balls and five fielders inside circle," Ashwin said, adding that modern ODIs are largely played in two extremes — either a full-blown ‘BashaThon’ or complete collapses on tricky surfaces where teams fold for 120.

ICC having too many World Cups

Ashwin, one of the most influential voices in contemporary cricket, also urged the ICC to reconsider its crowded calendar, even while acknowledging the importance of revenue generation for the sport’s sustainability.

"The ODI format has become redundant and to top it, ICC needs to see how they are conducting these World Cups. Every year, there is an ICC tournament for revenue generation pattern, but then look at how FIFA is doing it.

"There are leagues (EPL, La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga) happening and they do their World Cup once in every four years. The World Cup is having value as its a marquee tournament. Too many bilaterals, too many formats, too many World Cups, so it's little bit of an overkill," he said.

Ashwin further pointed out that fixtures in the upcoming T20 World Cup such as India versus USA and India versus Namibia could, at some level, alienate viewers.

Solution for ODI cricket's survival? Just have World Cup

While legends like Sachin Tendulkar have proposed innovations such as a split-innings format for ODIs, Ashwin believes the answer may lie in limiting the format to a single marquee event.

"If you really want to make ODI cricket relevant, then just play these (T20s) leagues and play ODI World Cup once in four years, so when people turn up for events, there will be sense of expectation. I feel it is going towards slow death."

(With PTI Inputs)